Combination of watch-key with finger-ring



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIHU BLISS, OF NEWARK,'NE\V JERSEY.

COMBINATION 0F WATCH-KEY WITH FINGER-RING.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 18,033, dated August 25, 1857.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, ELIHU BLISS, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Watch-Key and Finger-Ring Combined, of which t-he following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a front view of my comb-ined watch-key and fingersring, the key being t-urned within the ring as when worn upon the finger. Fig. 2 represents a perspect-ive view of thesame, with the key turned outward in position for winding a Watch; and Fig. 3 represents a plan, with one of the pipe-guards removed to show the curved recesses which @hold the key in place when turned within the ring.

It has been considered a desideratum in the trade to obtain some mode of constructing watchkeys so that they can be carried about the person in a safe and convenient manner without being liable to be lost or mislaid like the commn key when not attached to the watch. After much thought upon this subject, the plan of combining a watch-key with a finger ring suggested itself to me as onel that fully accomplished this object. The manner in which I have effected this combination is clearly represented in the accompanying drawings.

A finger-ring (B) which consists of a band or fillet bent in the form of a loop is left open at that part termed the face, forming a socket or recess in which the watchkey (A) may be received. The key consists of a short barrel with a winding pipe at each end and is mounted with pivots (a) at the center of its length. Pivot-holes are made in the center of the ends of the fillet by which the key is held in the socket in the ring and is free to turn on the pivots. Small longitudinal grooves (b) are made in the ends of the fillet near the outer corners into which the convex surface of the key iits when turned within the socket so as to be `parallel to the face of the ring. Transverse grooves (o) are also made in the ends of the iillet around the pivot holes for receiving the key when it is turned outward in position for winding a watch. The key is retained in these respective positions (parallel and perpendicular to the face of the ring) by the spring of the ring which is of suficient power to hold the key in place while winding and when turned within the ring. Small projections (d) extend from the corners of the fillet diagonally opposite to each other and protect the ends of the pipes when the key is turned within the ring.

I do not confine myself to the precise mode of connecting the key with the ring just described as it is obvious that thisvmay be done in a great variety of ways according to the taste and skill of the manufacturer; among other modes the key may be hinged at one end instead of being pivoted at the center, and turn within a recess made in the face of the ring, or it may be hinged or pivoted to other parts 0f the ring than the face.

lhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- A watch key and finger ring combined, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ELIHU Buss. y

In presence of- VM. D. BALDWIN, F. SoUTHGATE SMITH. 

